When first the Almighty Father's thought <br />Created man,-how wondrously <br />His virtue-giving spirit wrought <br />The mystic cords of Charity. <br /> <br /> <br />To live for others, and to know <br />No single, separate interests here; <br />To feel,-to soothe a brother's woe, <br />A brother's bliss to seek,-to share. <br /> <br /> <br />To scatter happiness o'er all- <br />To counsel,-pity,-or relieve: <br />To raise the weary-weak who fall, <br />And liberal, to lend,-to give.- <br /> <br /> <br />Such is the purpose, such the plan <br />For which our talents here were given; <br />For God created man for man;- <br />And earth would be as blest as heaven. <br /> <br /> <br />If such a heavenly fruit as this <br />Spread through the world its generous seed; <br />Then,-even woe itself were bliss- <br />And bliss would then be-bliss indeed.<br /><br />John Bowring<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-greatest-of-all-is-charity/
